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Published on: November 20, 2015
Association between reticulocyte hemoglobin content (RetHe) and neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infants
Grace K Mueller1, Miheret Yitayew2,3, Amanda Robinson4
1Children's Hospital of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, Richmond, VA, USA. grace.mueller@pediatrix.com.
Objective:
Investigate the impact of reticulocyte hemoglobin content (RetHe) on neurodevelopment in preterm infants.
Study Design:
Retrospective cohort of infants born ≤366/7 weeks gestational age (GA) with neurodevelopmental testing post-discharge. Associations between neurodevelopment and average RetHe, lowest RetHe, and exposure time to low RetHe ( < 29 pg) were described and stratified by GA. RetHe over time and test Z-scores were assessed using multivariable linear regression.
Results:
52% of 381 infants (N = 199) had at least 1 low RetHe. Infants with abnormal development had lower average and minimum RetHe, and longer exposure to low RetHe (all p ≤ 0.003). RetHe was highest in infants born 32-33 weeks GA. Higher RetHe during postnatal weeks 1-5 was associated with higher Test of Infant Motor Performance Z-scores (p = 0.0048), with diminishing effect over time, but decreasing 12-month Bayley cognitive Z-scores (p = 0.0064).
Conclusion:
RetHe is associated with neurodevelopment and potentially has differential effects based on GA and postnatal age.
